Chapter 9: Chapter 6: Best left forgotten, for now...
I hope you find this enjoyable. I'm still refining my skills when it comes to crafting these interactions, as I'm not entirely sure about the best practices.
Feedback is highly appreciated :)
Enjoy the chapter!
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Chapter 6: Best left forgotten, for now
[March 9th, 2004]
In the tranquil embrace of the city's nocturnal hush, Rachel's apartment exuded a warm, inviting ambiance. It was adorned with twinkling fairy lights and guarded by a legion of plush toys, reflecting the gentle nature of its owner.
Rachel, a streamer with a penchant for horror and survival games, possessed a unique personality. While her introverted tendencies were evident, she had the confidence to engage with her chat, even if she often blushed when they playfully teased her.
She didn't aspire to be the most popular streamer, and she was grateful for that. Unlike others who yearned for fame at any cost, Rachel preferred the intimacy of a smaller audience. It allowed her to connect more personally with her viewers, something she cherished. Still, she couldn't help but wonder what it was like to be famous.
To her chat, Rachel was a source of entertainment and charm. She was the adorable girl-next-door who couldn't tolerate too much teasing and would, in turn, transform into a blushing tomato, attempting to play it cool but only adding to the amusement.
As she adjusted her camera, Rachel greeted her viewers with a warm smile. "H-hello, chat. My apologies for my absence; my studies have kept me quite busy lately. Thank you for waiting. I'm truly sorry."
The chat overflowed with friendly greetings and understanding messages, some even affectionately calling her an angel for her considerate nature.
GamerDude92 chimed in, "Hey, Rachel! What's on the agenda tonight? Ready to spook us?"
Rachel's expression revealed a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Her fingers nervously fiddled with each other as she replied, "You know I get easily spooked by horror games! How about a survival game instead?"
Votes flooded the chat, leaving no doubt about the audience's preference. "It looks like we're braving the eerie asylum tonight, haha," Rachel said, a mix of nerves and excitement in her voice.
As the game began, Rachel ventured into a dark and foreboding abandoned asylum. Her genuine reactions, a blend of courage and frequent startles, were pure gold for her viewers who couldn't get enough of her emotional rollercoaster.
While Rachel wasn't easily frightened, it was the element of surprise that got to her. She wanted to experience the same jolts of fear her audience felt. Over time, she developed a keen sense for the spooky elements but still enjoyed the adrenaline rush.
Amid the tension of the game, a notification interrupted Rachel's immersion.
Startled, she jumped slightly in her seat, her wide eyes fixed on the screen. An anonymous user had donated $40.
Beneath the donation, a message beckoned her: "Visit Blackstar's profile."
Confusion tinged her curiosity. Her chat wasn't far behind, and the name Blackstar, the creator of Flappy Bird, was well-known to them. He wasn't a major creator, but his mysterious presence in someone else's livestream, asking them to play his game, had left a mark on the gaming community. Could this be the same Blackstar?
The $40 donation raised her curiosity. With a click, she followed the embedded link.
The link led to a post by Blackstar.
A single image was attached to the post, portraying a box with two key locks in a dim and eerie room, barely visible. As Rachel focused on the image and glanced at the top, one sentence seized her attention: "Some things are better left forgotten."
Perplexed, Rachel wondered about the message but couldn't unravel its meaning. Her chat was equally puzzled.
Then a chat member offered a clue, "If you click on the image, it takes you to Blackstar's website."
Rachel glanced at the message, then at the image, and decided to investigate further.
The link opened to a completely dark and desolate website, with only one conspicuous feature—an old newspaper with a dark background and bold letters that read, "HELP WANTED."
Intrigued, Rachel continued reading, "Family pizzeria looking for a security guard to work the night shift. Midnight to 6 AM. Monitor cameras, ensure the safety of equipment and animatronic characters. Not responsible for injury or dismemberment. $120 a week. To apply, call 1-888-FAZ-FAZBEAR."
The job posting struck Rachel as peculiar. Hiring for a family pizzeria? While the ad seemed authentic, there were strange elements—blurred text around the newspaper, the context, and the image of plush animatronics reminiscent of characters removed from a restaurant long ago.
"I can't help but feel something's off about this," Rachel admitted to her chat. Her viewers echoed her sentiments, and they delved into a discussion about the image's cryptic elements, even brainstorming ways to deblur the text.
As they speculated and theorized, word of the strange image quickly spread through the gaming community, setting in motion a collective hunt for answers.
***
[A few days later]
Ethan sat in his chair, closely monitoring the growing popularity of the enigmatic image he had posted. He understood that the true significance of the image would remain a mystery for the time being.
The newspaper snippet had been included to give some players a subtle hint about the game's theme and purpose. The intrigue surrounding the mysterious image only added to the excitement.
Despite having already completed the development of the game, Ethan decided to postpone its release. He had other plans in mind.
Ethan had identified a potential content creator who could serve as the perfect icon for Let's Plays of FNAF. With this in mind, he generously sent a free copy of the game to the streamer.
The streamer bombarded him with questions upon receiving the game, eager to uncover the game's secrets. Ethan remained silent, providing no answers. Instead, he sent the game and then chose to become a silent observer, waiting for the streamer to use the link he had shared.
He hoped that the streamer would utilize the link wisely, for it would lead her and her audience on a journey they wouldn't soon forget. It was essential for the element of surprise to remain intact, and Ethan believed that watching someone experience the game for the first time would be a rewarding spectacle.
As he watched from the shadows, the anticipation continued to build. The reaction of the streamer and her viewers would be a crucial factor in determining the game's initial reception. He had poured his heart and soul into this project, striving to craft an experience that would evoke genuine fear and excitement.
Ethan's mind wandered back to the days when he had been a player of the gaming community, enjoying the works of creators who had sparked his love for games. Now, he was on the cusp of making his own mark in the gaming world, and it was an exhilarating prospect.
The connection between the mysterious image and the cryptic newspaper advertisement remained a puzzle that only a select few could piece together. And that wasn't any time soon.
It was all part of his carefully orchestrated plan to create a sense of intrigue and anticipation.
With each passing day, the anticipation grew, and he couldn't help but smile at the thought of how the world would react to his creation. The future was uncertain, but it was also full of promise, and Ethan was ready to embrace it.
Chapter end.
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